A gal alone and on the go from Provence to Rome: Trip Report
Mar 12th, 2006, 06:36 AM
#21
laartisa, this is so much fun. When I was staying across the bridge, my room had a seperate toilet room that you had to climb three steps to get there, a true throne. and the tub and shower in another.Please post more soon.
Mar 12th, 2006, 09:24 AM
#22
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Day 2 or so I think
I wake up feeling refreshed from my day of planes, trains and automobiles. This room stays dark I must have slept late. Open the drapes, it's dark outside. No clock in the room so I look for my watch and do some watch math. Bought the watch in Germany 4 years ago and still can't set it. So half the year back home I have to add an hour.Damn, it's only 1:30 am. Ugh! Next 4 hours, T.V, elle magazine, suduko fall back asleep and up again at 9:30. Order some coffee to the room, can't function without the morning caffien and today I'm off for my first field trip from Avignon. Today I go to St. Remy and Le Baux on the suggestion from many on this board. I had never heard of them before my Fodor's addiction began.
A quick stop at the reception desk armed with my via michelin maps and directions. Sunglasses-check, lip gloss-check, mastercard-check check. Double check which way to get out of Avignon with Fabrice and off I go.
Driving out of Avignon was easy, not very picturesque, but easy. Roundabouts--no problem, I've got my eagle eye sunglasses on (although it's quite cloudy and grey)and even though those roundabouts are the pain the French are really good at posting direction signs to the different towns. I'm noticing the beautiful white bark trees, I don't know what kind they are and they are bare of leaves but dramatic still. As I listen to the Black Eyed Peas on the radio on the road to St. Remy--- We interrupt your musical listening pleasure to bring you a nonsensical announcement from Madam Knightrider. She's back and talks right over the radio. Now I know David Hasselhoff is popular in Europe but this is ridiculous. I pull over, I need to stop her. I figure out if I press dark button screen goes blank and she stops talking. Press navigate screen back on voice gone. This is the procedure every now and then for the next 5 days.
As I approach St. Remy I thought where do I park, where do I go? In front of me there is a town square with a parking lot in the middle. Looks good I'll park here. Wow ,it's really quiet here. I know it's February but I mean really quiet. I can imagine what madhouses these places must become in the high tourist season. So despite the 40 degree weather and lack of bloom or people I figure I have the whole place to myself. So I follow the signs to the tourist office. FERME'--closed? The tourist office closed? I just laughed and went for a cappuccino.
I wake up feeling refreshed from my day of planes, trains and automobiles. This room stays dark I must have slept late. Open the drapes, it's dark outside. No clock in the room so I look for my watch and do some watch math. Bought the watch in Germany 4 years ago and still can't set it. So half the year back home I have to add an hour.Damn, it's only 1:30 am. Ugh! Next 4 hours, T.V, elle magazine, suduko fall back asleep and up again at 9:30. Order some coffee to the room, can't function without the morning caffien and today I'm off for my first field trip from Avignon. Today I go to St. Remy and Le Baux on the suggestion from many on this board. I had never heard of them before my Fodor's addiction began.
A quick stop at the reception desk armed with my via michelin maps and directions. Sunglasses-check, lip gloss-check, mastercard-check check. Double check which way to get out of Avignon with Fabrice and off I go.
Driving out of Avignon was easy, not very picturesque, but easy. Roundabouts--no problem, I've got my eagle eye sunglasses on (although it's quite cloudy and grey)and even though those roundabouts are the pain the French are really good at posting direction signs to the different towns. I'm noticing the beautiful white bark trees, I don't know what kind they are and they are bare of leaves but dramatic still. As I listen to the Black Eyed Peas on the radio on the road to St. Remy--- We interrupt your musical listening pleasure to bring you a nonsensical announcement from Madam Knightrider. She's back and talks right over the radio. Now I know David Hasselhoff is popular in Europe but this is ridiculous. I pull over, I need to stop her. I figure out if I press dark button screen goes blank and she stops talking. Press navigate screen back on voice gone. This is the procedure every now and then for the next 5 days.
As I approach St. Remy I thought where do I park, where do I go? In front of me there is a town square with a parking lot in the middle. Looks good I'll park here. Wow ,it's really quiet here. I know it's February but I mean really quiet. I can imagine what madhouses these places must become in the high tourist season. So despite the 40 degree weather and lack of bloom or people I figure I have the whole place to myself. So I follow the signs to the tourist office. FERME'--closed? The tourist office closed? I just laughed and went for a cappuccino.
Mar 12th, 2006, 10:27 AM
#23
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If you just say "Je suis perdue" people are likely to think that you have lost your soul--better to say "Je me suis perdue" to be on the safe side. Unless, of course, you have lost both yourself and your soul, as when Scarlet went to hell.
Avignon can be really difficult to get around in--we somehoe ended up in the outskirts and had to circle and circle to get back to the center.
As for the voice in French, we used to have a Datsun Maxima that said things like "Right door is open," except in a Japanese accent--so it was "Light door is open." We named her Maxine, and I miss her since we sold the car.
Avignon can be really difficult to get around in--we somehoe ended up in the outskirts and had to circle and circle to get back to the center.
As for the voice in French, we used to have a Datsun Maxima that said things like "Right door is open," except in a Japanese accent--so it was "Light door is open." We named her Maxine, and I miss her since we sold the car.
Mar 12th, 2006, 11:18 AM
#24
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This is too funny. I found myself giving your driving instructions from in front of this screen.
As a fellow New York who rarely if ever drives had the same experience when we visited/arrived Avignon. But sure knew that Rt. in/our of St. Remy in every direction in a hot NY-minute.
Personally, I would have shot the car!
More, more please!
As a fellow New York who rarely if ever drives had the same experience when we visited/arrived Avignon. But sure knew that Rt. in/our of St. Remy in every direction in a hot NY-minute.
Personally, I would have shot the car!
More, more please!
Mar 12th, 2006, 12:57 PM
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I am enjoying your report so much too laartista. And believe Cobbie when she describes the weather, we live just 30 miles from each other. Miserable terrible weather, LOL.
Now, more about your experiences in France..
Now, more about your experiences in France..
Mar 12th, 2006, 01:22 PM
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Hi Underhill, well my left hand is aching..we sure are having miserable weather aren't we, from Benicia to Vacaville to Davis. Terrible! I always feel like a wimp complaining about the weather as know that those in the midwest and eastcoast etc. have worse, but this is California, and people think we have 14/7 blue sky and sunshine. We only wish right? Take care and stay warm.
Mar 12th, 2006, 01:51 PM
#29
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Hey Underhill "light door is open had me choking--sooo funny.
O.K. kids, so I'm in St.Remy and tourist opffice is closed so I decide after my cap to stroll around town. To my dismay it seems everything is closed. It's Friday afternoon about 1:00 and it appears it's siesta in France. So I walk thru the cobbled streets of this ever so charming town which on this day is void of color except for the blue shutters because it's a grey winter day. I window shop and take a bunch of photos and head down what I'm guessing is the main street, I forget the name but the L'hotel is on it which looks like a really nice place and I find myself wishing I had stayed there.
Across the street I notice a store is open so I pop in, my mastercard was burning a hole in my pocket so I bought my 2 neices little french shirts in pink that say made in mother. St. Remy is a beautiful town and I can see why it's so popular with this board. After about 2 hours I decide to head on to Le Baux. Driving out of town I pass the galum ruins and snap a few photos.
Up the hill I drive, Madam Knightrider has been quiet. I notice the GPS screen which I hadn't paid much attention to and notice it's mapping my drive. That's what they do, right? So I'm watching it and the road and I see a hairpin turn on the screen. Is this what's coming? Yes it is! Up the windy road to Le Baux. Really beautiful from what I can see but I'm trying to concentrate on the road which is hard , I find myself wanting to look out the side window.
I arrive at the parking landing at the base of the town. It is wicked windy and cold up there but I've got a chateau to see a Chateau des Baux! I stop to snap a few pix of the view. Everything is open here. I first pass a store with candied fruits and chocolates, peek in for a look, I've never seen such pretty treats. Up the hill I walk stopping in the shops to browse. The higher I go the windier it gets. Finally at the chateau. Buy my ticket and armed with my new Sony P200 digital camera-- Oh my, I feel like I'm on the top of the world. Noone else there, just me. I wander around taking in the views which are really breathtaking. Up and down the stairs of the chateau ruins, passed the catapults--this is awesome. I'm so mesmerized that I don't notice my hands are turning blue from the cold. I decide to head down.
On the way out of the village I stop for yet another cafe. I always drink so much cofee in Europe. Bought a few post cards that showed Le Baux in better weather and start my drive back to Avignon.
Back in Avignon I realize another day I haven't eaten yet. Sometimes I forget. There was this little cafe/bar called Le Americain. I go there. Order a bottled water and a pizza, a frozen pizza, I know I'm in Provence where there is great food and I'm ordering a frozen pizza in a bar. Shameful it is!
At the table next to me, I'm sitting at a small booth, ther are two women with a really cute springer spaniel. I love animals and can't help saying Bon Jour puppy. He must understand because over he comes, up on back legs and hands me his paw. So cute, what's his name I ask. Neeson, neeson? No Neeson, Neeson? No NEELSON, Oh, Nelson. Oui. Hello Nelson, well that's all he needed for permission to jump up on my booth and get in my lap. Bottle of water, frozen pizza, springer spaniel in my lap, all set for lunch.
O.K. kids, so I'm in St.Remy and tourist opffice is closed so I decide after my cap to stroll around town. To my dismay it seems everything is closed. It's Friday afternoon about 1:00 and it appears it's siesta in France. So I walk thru the cobbled streets of this ever so charming town which on this day is void of color except for the blue shutters because it's a grey winter day. I window shop and take a bunch of photos and head down what I'm guessing is the main street, I forget the name but the L'hotel is on it which looks like a really nice place and I find myself wishing I had stayed there.
Across the street I notice a store is open so I pop in, my mastercard was burning a hole in my pocket so I bought my 2 neices little french shirts in pink that say made in mother. St. Remy is a beautiful town and I can see why it's so popular with this board. After about 2 hours I decide to head on to Le Baux. Driving out of town I pass the galum ruins and snap a few photos.
Up the hill I drive, Madam Knightrider has been quiet. I notice the GPS screen which I hadn't paid much attention to and notice it's mapping my drive. That's what they do, right? So I'm watching it and the road and I see a hairpin turn on the screen. Is this what's coming? Yes it is! Up the windy road to Le Baux. Really beautiful from what I can see but I'm trying to concentrate on the road which is hard , I find myself wanting to look out the side window.
I arrive at the parking landing at the base of the town. It is wicked windy and cold up there but I've got a chateau to see a Chateau des Baux! I stop to snap a few pix of the view. Everything is open here. I first pass a store with candied fruits and chocolates, peek in for a look, I've never seen such pretty treats. Up the hill I walk stopping in the shops to browse. The higher I go the windier it gets. Finally at the chateau. Buy my ticket and armed with my new Sony P200 digital camera-- Oh my, I feel like I'm on the top of the world. Noone else there, just me. I wander around taking in the views which are really breathtaking. Up and down the stairs of the chateau ruins, passed the catapults--this is awesome. I'm so mesmerized that I don't notice my hands are turning blue from the cold. I decide to head down.
On the way out of the village I stop for yet another cafe. I always drink so much cofee in Europe. Bought a few post cards that showed Le Baux in better weather and start my drive back to Avignon.
Back in Avignon I realize another day I haven't eaten yet. Sometimes I forget. There was this little cafe/bar called Le Americain. I go there. Order a bottled water and a pizza, a frozen pizza, I know I'm in Provence where there is great food and I'm ordering a frozen pizza in a bar. Shameful it is!
At the table next to me, I'm sitting at a small booth, ther are two women with a really cute springer spaniel. I love animals and can't help saying Bon Jour puppy. He must understand because over he comes, up on back legs and hands me his paw. So cute, what's his name I ask. Neeson, neeson? No Neeson, Neeson? No NEELSON, Oh, Nelson. Oui. Hello Nelson, well that's all he needed for permission to jump up on my booth and get in my lap. Bottle of water, frozen pizza, springer spaniel in my lap, all set for lunch.
Mar 12th, 2006, 04:31 PM
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I'm so enjoying this trip report, laarista. We had the same thing happen to us in Spain--asked for directions and this gentleman gets into the car with us and literally TAKES US THERE! Not only that, we had a POLICE ESCOURT to the Museo Picasso in Malaga!
Sound like other people here have had similiar experiences too. Talk about quality of life...of course, we didn't have a "talking car" ...very funny!
And yes, isn't it great--to have poochies in bars and restaurants--I'm always telling my poochies about this and how civilized it is!
PLEASE keep writing, laartista-- this is great fun!
Sound like other people here have had similiar experiences too. Talk about quality of life...of course, we didn't have a "talking car" ...very funny!
And yes, isn't it great--to have poochies in bars and restaurants--I'm always telling my poochies about this and how civilized it is!
PLEASE keep writing, laartista-- this is great fun!
Mar 12th, 2006, 07:12 PM
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laartista,
I wonder whether your car was related to the one we rented our last time in France, the kind without a key. It insisted on turning the lights on and off for us and hissed if we didn't fasten the seatbelts right away. The guy who ran our B&B recommended that we talk loudly about how great we thought de Gaulle was because the car would like that and behave.
I wonder whether your car was related to the one we rented our last time in France, the kind without a key. It insisted on turning the lights on and off for us and hissed if we didn't fasten the seatbelts right away. The guy who ran our B&B recommended that we talk loudly about how great we thought de Gaulle was because the car would like that and behave.
Mar 13th, 2006, 05:02 AM
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Hey, thanks guys and gals for your nice comments and encouragement. And funny comments too. I'm trying to figure out how to post some pix. Since I'm a little technicalogically (is that a word?)challenged and until now I was a trip report virgin it could take a bit.
After lunch with nelson the dog which was really at about 5:30, I decided to go check out the streets of Avignon. Now usually when I travel I'm really into museums. I love art and architecture. But for some reason I just wasn't feeling the whole museum thing- so arcitecture it is. Wanted to see the bones of this old city. The thing is it's dusk so I need to hurry up.
Through the little streets of Avignon I walk looking at the buildings, always paying attention to the doors, windows and hardware. Also a little window shopping, but not real shopping because some one on this site had said how his wife loves to shop in Aix and I was going there tomorrow.
At about 8:30 I was tired, I think I was a little jet lagged still from the day before. I grab a sandwhich in case I wake up at 1:00 am hungry, which I did and my tomato, egg, ham, cheese and soggy lettuce sandwhich hit the spot.
Day 3 I go to Aix-but right now I go to the hardware store-more later and thanks alot again for being so nice, I know I can drone on.
After lunch with nelson the dog which was really at about 5:30, I decided to go check out the streets of Avignon. Now usually when I travel I'm really into museums. I love art and architecture. But for some reason I just wasn't feeling the whole museum thing- so arcitecture it is. Wanted to see the bones of this old city. The thing is it's dusk so I need to hurry up.
Through the little streets of Avignon I walk looking at the buildings, always paying attention to the doors, windows and hardware. Also a little window shopping, but not real shopping because some one on this site had said how his wife loves to shop in Aix and I was going there tomorrow.
At about 8:30 I was tired, I think I was a little jet lagged still from the day before. I grab a sandwhich in case I wake up at 1:00 am hungry, which I did and my tomato, egg, ham, cheese and soggy lettuce sandwhich hit the spot.
Day 3 I go to Aix-but right now I go to the hardware store-more later and thanks alot again for being so nice, I know I can drone on.
